Jonah Berger, a renowned social scientist, coined the term "magic words" to describe language techniques that have a powerful impact on influencing others. Through his research, he has identified several words and phrases that can greatly enhance persuasion and make messages more compelling. One such magic word is "you." Berger argues that by shifting the focus of communication to the audience or individual receiving the message, it becomes more engaging and relatable. Instead of using generic statements, tailoring messages to address the specific needs, desires, or interests of the listener can greatly increase their receptiveness. Another magic word is "because.
\$\begingroup\$ Were you using an appropriately sized extension cable for your load? I'm sure the self-contact and close proximity only makes the issue worse; but 1500W is also a pretty big load. Just quickly looking up some numbers, I could see that easily being too high current for the cable when using a 50 ft. or 100 ft. cord. \$\endgroup\$
As Karalis, a graduate student in electrical engineering and computer science, points out, Here is where the magic of the resonant coupling comes about. The fact that magnetic fields interact so weakly with biological organisms is also important for safety considerations, Kurs, a graduate student in physics, points out.
Another magic word is "because." This word appeals to our natural curiosity and desire to understand the underlying reasons behind actions or requests. Berger highlights that providing even a simple explanation using the word "because" can exponentially increase compliance and convince others to take desired actions.
MIT demonstrates wireless power transfer
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Imagine a future in which wireless power transfer is feasible: cell phones, household robots, mp3 players, laptop computers and other portable electronics capable of charging themselves without ever being plugged in, freeing us from that final, ubiquitous power wire. Some of these devices might not even need their bulky batteries to operate. A team from MIT’s Department of Physics, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN) has experimentally demonstrated an important step toward accomplishing this vision of the future. The team members are Andre Kurs, Aristeidis Karalis, Robert Moffatt, Prof. Peter Fisher, and Prof. John Joannopoulos (Francis Wright Davis Chair and director of ISN), led by Prof. Marin Soljacic. Realizing their recent theoretical prediction, they were able to light a 60W light bulb from a power source seven feet (more than two meters) away; there was no physical connection between the source and the appliance. The MIT team refers to its concept as “WiTricity” (as in wireless electricity). The work will be reported in the June 7 issue of Science Express, the advance online publication of the journal Science.
The story starts one late night a few years ago, with Soljacic (pronounced Soul-ya-cheech) standing in his pajamas, staring at his cell phone on the kitchen counter. “It was probably the sixth time that month that I was awakened by my cell phone beeping to let me know that I had forgotten to charge it. It occurred to me that it would be so great if the thing took care of its own charging.” To make this possible, one would have to have a way to transmit power wirelessly, so Soljacic started thinking about which physical phenomena could help make this wish a reality.
Various methods of transmitting power wirelessly have been known for centuries. Perhaps the best known example is electromagnetic radiation, such as radio waves. While such radiation is excellent for wireless transmission of information, it is not feasible to use it for power transmission. Since radiation spreads in all directions, a vast majority of power would end up being wasted into free space. One can envision using directed electromagnetic radiation, such as lasers, but this is not very practical and can even be dangerous. It requires an uninterrupted line of sight between the source and the device, as well as a sophisticated tracking mechanism when the device is mobile.
In contrast, WiTricity is based on using coupled resonant objects. Two resonant objects of the same resonant frequency tend to exchange energy efficiently, while interacting weakly with extraneous off-resonant objects. A child on a swing is a good example of this. A swing is a type of mechanical resonance, so only when the child pumps her legs at the natural frequency of the swing is she able to impart substantial energy. Another example involves acoustic resonances: Imagine a room with 100 identical wine glasses, each filled with wine up to a different level, so they all have different resonant frequencies. If an opera singer sings a sufficiently loud single note inside the room, a glass of the corresponding frequency might accumulate sufficient energy to even explode, while not influencing the other glasses. In any system of coupled resonators there often exists a so-called “strongly coupled” regime of operation. If one ensures to operate in that regime in a given system, the energy transfer can be very efficient.
While these considerations are universal, applying to all kinds of resonances (e.g., acoustic, mechanical, electromagnetic, etc.), the MIT team focused on one particular type: magnetically coupled resonators. The team explored a system of two electromagnetic resonators coupled mostly through their magnetic fields; they were able to identify the strongly coupled regime in this system, even when the distance between them was several times larger than the sizes of the resonant objects. This way, efficient power transfer was enabled. Magnetic coupling is particularly suitable for everyday applications because most common materials interact only very weakly with magnetic fields, so interactions with extraneous environmental objects are suppressed even further. “The fact that magnetic fields interact so weakly with biological organisms is also important for safety considerations,” Kurs, a graduate student in physics, points out.
The investigated design consists of two copper coils, each a self-resonant system. One of the coils, attached to the power source, is the sending unit. Instead of irradiating the environment with electromagnetic waves, it fills the space around it with a non-radiative magnetic field oscillating at MHz frequencies. The non-radiative field mediates the power exchange with the other coil (the receiving unit), which is specially designed to resonate with the field. The resonant nature of the process ensures the strong interaction between the sending unit and the receiving unit, while the interaction with the rest of the environment is weak. Moffatt, an MIT undergraduate in physics, explains: “The crucial advantage of using the non-radiative field lies in the fact that most of the power not picked up by the receiving coil remains bound to the vicinity of the sending unit, instead of being radiated into the environment and lost.” With such a design, power transfer has a limited range, and the range would be shorter for smaller-size receivers. Still, for laptop-sized coils, power levels more than sufficient to run a laptop can be transferred over room-sized distances nearly omni-directionally and efficiently, irrespective of the geometry of the surrounding space, even when environmental objects completely obstruct the line-of-sight between the two coils. Fisher points out: “As long as the laptop is in a room equipped with a source of such wireless power, it would charge automatically, without having to be plugged in. In fact, it would not even need a battery to operate inside of such a room.” In the long run, this could reduce our society’s dependence on batteries, which are currently heavy and expensive.
At first glance, such a power transfer is reminiscent of relatively commonplace magnetic induction, such as is used in power transformers, which contain coils that transmit power to each other over very short distances. An electric current running in a sending coil induces another current in a receiving coil. The two coils are very close, but they do not touch. However, this behavior changes dramatically when the distance between the coils is increased. As Karalis, a graduate student in electrical engineering and computer science, points out, “Here is where the magic of the resonant coupling comes about. The usual non-resonant magnetic induction would be almost 1 million times less efficient in this particular system.”
WiTricity is rooted in such well-known laws of physics that it makes one wonder why no one thought of it before. “In the past, there was no great demand for such a system, so people did not have a strong motivation to look into it,” points out Joannopoulos, adding, “Over the past several years, portable electronic devices, such as laptops, cell phones, iPods and even household robots have become widespread, all of which require batteries that need to be recharged often.”
As for what the future holds, Soljacic adds, “Once, when my son was about three years old, we visited his grandparents’ house. They had a 20-year-old phone and my son picked up the handset, asking, ‘Dad, why is this phone attached with a cord to the wall"’ That is the mindset of a child growing up in a wireless world. My best response was, ‘It is strange and awkward, isn’t it" Hopefully, we will be getting rid of some more wires, and also batteries, soon.’”
This work was funded by the Army Research Office (Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies), National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.
Written by Franklin Hadley, Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, MIT
But if you use it to power a 300 W floodlight and/or a lawnmower and/or a toaster then you do need to unroll the cable completely so that any generated heat can escape into the air.
Additionally, Berger emphasizes the power of using specific and concrete language rather than general or abstract terms. Specific details and vivid descriptions can make messages more memorable and persuasive. As humans, we tend to connect better with tangible examples and images, which enhance the effectiveness of communication. Furthermore, Berger suggests that highlighting the scarcity or limited availability of something can create a sense of urgency and drive action. Phrases like "limited time offer" or "while supplies last" tap into our fear of missing out and can increase the perceived value of what is being communicated. Finally, Berger asserts the effectiveness of the word "free." People are naturally drawn to free offers or benefits, creating a sense of goodwill and reciprocity. Even when there might be hidden costs or conditions, the allure of something being free can generate interest and positively influence behaviors. In conclusion, Jonah Berger's concept of "magic words" provides valuable insights into how language can be used to influence others effectively. By understanding and incorporating techniques such as addressing the individual, providing explanations, using specific language, emphasizing scarcity, and leveraging the notion of "free," communicators can greatly enhance their persuasiveness and engagement with the intended audience..
Reviews for "The Language of Success: Jonah Bergwer's Magic Words"
1. Emily - 1 star
I was extremely disappointed with "Jonah Bergwr Magic Words". The writing was amateurish and lacked any originality. The characters were one-dimensional and unrelatable. The plot was predictable and had no depth. Overall, it felt like a complete waste of time and money. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
2. Mike - 2 stars
I had high expectations for "Jonah Bergwr Magic Words" based on the hype surrounding it, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on while others seemed rushed. The dialogue was unrealistic and forced, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The magic system was poorly explained and left many unanswered questions. I was left feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed by the end.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
"Jonah Bergwr Magic Words" was marketed as a thrilling and captivating fantasy novel, but it failed to deliver. The world-building was lackluster, and the descriptions were vague and uninteresting. The protagonist lacked depth and went through minimal character development. The plot was predictable, and the twists were easily anticipated. The writing style felt juvenile and lacked the sophistication I was expecting. Overall, it was a forgettable and uninspiring read.
4. Mark - 1 star
I can't believe "Jonah Bergwr Magic Words" received such positive reviews. The writing was choppy and full of cliches. The dialogue felt unnatural and awkward. The storyline was unoriginal and reminded me of countless other fantasy novels I've read. The characters were forgettable and lacked any redeeming qualities. I couldn't wait to finish the book, and I have no intention of picking up anything else by this author.
5. Jessica - 2 stars
"Jonah Bergwr Magic Words" had so much potential, but it ultimately fell short. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed action scenes. The world-building was undeveloped, leaving me feeling disconnected from the story. The characters were shallow and lacked development. The romantic subplot felt forced and lacked chemistry. Overall, it was a mediocre read that failed to live up to its promises.